June 2016 Round Up and Video

June 2016 Round Up and Video

June Video click here.

Lakes Video click here.

A few months ago a weatherman’s interpretation of some meteorological data was reinterpreted by a journalist which led to headlines predicting a heatwave for the months of June and July. The heatwave had other ideas and stayed in hiding for the majority of July, treating us to the odd few hours of sun some days - it could not even manage a whole day. Rain never actually stopped play but it did give us a few uncomfortable moments, cold and wet is not a welcome state in June. The Daily Express is to blame with its weather-mongering front pages, warning of the risk to life from the devastating heat which will boil the blood of pensioners to a thrombotic slurry. Express headlines only ever cover one of three themes, immigrants, pensions or the weather; if ever a rubber dinghy full of migrants surf into the country on a tsunami to claim our pensions, a headline writer will be orgasmic.

Enough of this drivel, some rides happened this month, starting with the foggy epic which was The Serious Ride For Serious Men before reverting to mountain biking for the remainder of the month - the highlight being our trip to The Lakes, blogged in the Once Upon Time In The West trilogy and video. Time constraints prevented the majority of the other rides being blogged - normal service will be resumed once I have stopped being a B&Q boy and the hammer, hammer, hammer, saw, saw, saw, screw, screw, nonsense is consigned to history. Best get it all out of the way before I retire because that’s when all the DIY tools will be going in a skip somewhere and my valuable time can be devoted to the important things in life.

The unblogged rides are detailed below, along with a few pictures.

Birk Brow

Rosedale

Reeth

Hamsterley

Sheepwash

A Little Bit Of MBO

Mountain Bike Ride

Alone

12th June 2016 route.

For the first time in a few years I found myself able to enter a mountain bike orienteering event, something we did regularly a few years ago. This event took place from Kildale, so I could rely on local knowledge to get me round. For those who have never had a go, a number of control points are spread about the countryside, each having a points value from 5-30 points depending on how easy or difficult they are to reach. An electronic “dibber” is supplied which is inserted into the control box to record the visit, at the start the dibber is inserted into a start box and inserted again at the finish to record the participants time, this event was three hours and minutes over the allotted time are punished by points deductions. As soon as the start box is dibbed, a map is issued with all the control points marked, then you can plot your route - in my case,  maximum points for minimum effort. I am a process operator - it’s in my nature to be bone idle. Big hills and muddy bridleways were eschewed in favour of a leisurely amble round the moors above Guisborough Forest. The recent wet weather has regressed the tracks to winter conditions, muddy and slippy, low cloud and mist on the hilltops and temperatures more akin to March than June.

This event was part of a league, really keen riders enter all events in the series with a view to gaining a total score at the end of the year. Most ride race-ready hardtails featuring some sort of handlebar mounted platform to hold the map, so they do not have to drag it from their pockets to check progress. Unlike me who kept having to stop, pull crumpled map from pocket, pull reading glasses from another pocket, don glasses, glasses steam up instantly, remove glasses, find handkerchief, clean glasses, put glasses back on, find next control point, memorise route to control point, replace glasses and map, remount bike, ride to next control point and repeat, trying not to get in the way of more serious competitors. Despite many people obviously trying for maximum points, flinging themselves breathlessly at the control points before speeding off - it’s all very good-natured with plenty of chatting and friendly banter.

My own efforts were not too spectacular, 200 points from a maximum of 525 placing me near the bottom of my class (M50 - I know, you can’t believe it, me in the over 50’s) and, to be honest, just about every other class. Probably a lot to do with finishing with 25 minutes still to go - must invest in a watch for the next event. If you have never tried MBO give it a go, it brings another dimension to going for a bike ride. All I need is a watch, a map holder and laser eye surgery plus a bit more effort and 250 points might be possible.

Details of events can be found on the BMBO website, you can join for free as a day rider if you only plan on doing the occasional event.

Once Upon A Time In The West - The Movie.

Once Upon A Time In The West - The Movie.

A short film of our recent three day trip to The Lake District click for Video

Once Upon A Time In The West Part 3

Whinlatter Altura Trail North and South Loops.

Mountain Bike Ride.

Featuring: The Bread Lad. The Ginger One.

10th June route

In complete contrast to the past two days, today’s riding was in the “safe” confines of the Whinlatter trail centre. Trail centres have their detractors who castigate them for being bland and sanitised, enabling inexperienced riders to put themselves in situations beyond their ability but sometimes they are a bit of a guilty pleasure, no route finding, no unexpected hazards, graded climbing and (hopefully, if the place is well designed) plenty of that indefinable thing called flow. It seemed like a pleasant way to finish our three day break.

The Ginger One travelled across to join us and we bored him with tales of yesterday’s awesome Whiteless Pike ride. We set off and did the North loop, which was nice, there were no casualties and we headed straight for the South loop, again uneventful apart from a single puncture near the top. Of course it had to be me and my unfeasibly tight rims which gave the midges a chance to go to town on us as we fought the tyre back onto the rim. The weather remains hot and hazy, with ever-present dampness in the air, the trails quite damp, slate and root sections a little slippy and even the occasional puddle to remind us we are still in Britain.

Satiated by our quick fix of problem-free enjoyment, we retired to the cafe for lunch, as did every cyclist who had left Whitehaven or Workington this morning. Throngs of hungry Coast To Coasters formed an orderly queue, having past experience of this cafe at busy times, we decided to patronise Braithwaite instead. The cafe on the Scotgate campsite was open and empty, a perfect combination, and soon we were sat in the sunshine, getting on the outside of some food.